This article details recent trends in a few specific materials consumed in the ceramic, glass and related industries.

A strong commercial building market is boosting sales of flat glass, while advanced glass is benefiting from increased demand in electronics and telecommunications. Meanwhile, the container glass industry continues to face challenges.

Despite the housing slowdown in the U.S., the trend to make bathrooms larger and more luxurious is benefiting the ceramic tile and sanitaryware markets. However, dinnerware and pottery manufacturers continue to face pricing pressures and steep competition from low-cost producers.

From ceramic armor to electronics to aerospace, many markets in the advanced ceramics sector are posting double-digit gains, with further growth expected over the next several years.

Asia continues to drive the global refractories market, but opportunities also abound in Eastern Europe, Russia and the U.S.

A revamp of Redland Brick's molded brick plant in Rocky Ridge, Md., has provided fuel and labor savings, along with added manufacturing capacity

Research under way at some of today's premier universities and laboratories promises to create new opportunities for ceramic and glass manufacturing

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is helping brick manufacturers improve product tracking both in the plant and on the yard for better quality and inventory control.

Logan Clay Products Co. in Logan, Ohio, has always been in the waste business-wastewater, that is. For more than 100 years, the company has produced the high-quality clay sewer pipe specified by municipalities from New York to Chicago to the Carolinas.

Often, companies need additional material processing capacity immediately to satisfy market demand. In other cases, companies can't yet justify purchasing new equipment but need to be able to mill materials to fill a specific market niche. Toll processing is increasingly providing the ideal solution.